Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-08-12
CLOSE Up RANES.

The prohibition contest il settled after
q vigorous and e sometimes fierce Cal
yass. II was conducted on both sides
with signal ability and prudence, and
public interest in the measure was
aroused in proportion to the magnitude
of the great question. People differed as
they will on al public questions, and
differing were not at all times willing tC
accord to each other entire honesty and
/ sincerity. Hard things were said by
| Democrat against Democrat in the he&:
and strife that prevailed; friendships
were sometimes lost, and friends
alienated, and each taking his screed in
MS hand, declared that 1t and it slcne was
the true and only Democratic doctrine.
The Republicans in the contest were
divided Some from honesty and patri-
otism were for prohibition, and some
against for the same reasons. The rank
and file of the Republicans were, ike the
! Democrats, divided honestly on the
question, while the politicians OF that
fGitn were divided also for the purpose,
as they announced, of iujuring Democ-
racy. The Republican idea was to divide
the Democrats on this question in order
that some one of the contending factions
might be induced 10 coalesce with and be
merged into the Republican party,
This is the only hope of success
| % 20 ~,
Texas. BY inserting pro or
anti plank in their platform, they will
hope to attract the minority towards
them sad thus swell their ranks TO re-
| spectacle proportions. There is a large
element in the anti ranks that will leave
any psrty thst seeks to Cypress it, and
Join any party that offers it benefits and
protection; there are great many Pro-
hibitionists whose life work and heart
work is bound up and blended in the
task Of prohibiting the liquor traffic, and
who would not hesitate to join any pc
litical party inst offered them realiza-
ton O. their cherished wish. That the
, Prolibitionists have been defeated
ii this contest is quite plain,
and if the politicians can rule, and
: carry out their plan, ii is not improbable
thst prohibition plank will DE found in
the next Republican platform in Texas.
True prohibition Democrats viii recog-
: nize any such action of the Republicans
as s'sop to CerbeTus," aud will not be at
tracted towards it Lor deceived by it.
They will fight sEy party that fires on the
Democratic flag. They would gladly see
prohibition carried, but will not for this
one principle surrender e host Of princi-
, pies which they love as dearly IS they dc
prohibition. They Will bide their time
and, as good Democrats, bow to the vii
of the majority. There are Others
however, who are luke-warm snc
weak-kneed, and who will vote
any ticket that may present itsel
l. with q prohibitory plank in il
, whether thst party be called the Pro
hibition, Republican or Labor pArty, or :
i combination OF the three. Doubtless i
It would be found difficult to skillfully com
Z pound an amalgsmation of this character
t, out difficult teats are sometimes achieved
= in the political arena. The Democracy h2.
e nothing to fear from the three psrtie.
e above named so long as they are segre
# gated. II, by some powerful alchemy
y these warning factions could be trans
p muted into soIidifed opposition, III
i grand msj ority which makes Texas ID
banner state CT Democracy might be Wis
IDLY curtsiled The LAST Democratic con
w venticn with comrendable farsigh
e wisely provided i0r an emergency OF thi
81 nature. By leaving every Democrat s
IT liberty to exercise his volition in th
81 matter CT voting on the question Just de
y cided, the doors have been closed agains
re no one nor will the fealty of any one b
,e questioned on account of the part he ma
ID have taken in the contest. Democrat
a. unifcstion has never been disturbed no
re danger to the party threatened. On pc
Is litical questions the great body of tn
ne party standing firmly on the Gslvesto